Friday, 21 August 2015

Good old Paddy

Finally managed to get over to Noss last Sunday in glorious sunshine. Nobody followed us across Bressay so i was picked up by Chris in the inflatable and transported over the sound of Noss into his `Kingdom'

At that time a trickle of migrants had started to appear but my main target was the long stay Paddyfield warbler which had now been present for 26 days in the small garden at the back of the wardens house.

I say garden but most gardeners would have been quickly into the plot to start pulling out all the weeds.

Chris quickly introduced me to Paddy- the warbler, which quickly flew up into view after some `pishing' - as birders do.

It briefly landed on the wall before heading down into the undergrowth, its normal habitat.

Its always difficult to photograph a moving bird amongst vegetation as the autofocus tends to lock onto a plant rather than the bird.

It did however pose about halfway up a stem so managed a few shots. The bird maintained its usual circuit but then disappeared for 1/2 hour.

I relocated the bird in a new spot over in a nettle patch behind the house, a spot that Chris hadn't see the bird in.

After leaving the nettle patch it flew close to the wall before finally going back into the garden. Disappearing occasionally into the nettle patch, perhaps a sign that it was intending to leave the island.

I continued to photograph it for 2.5 hours in total, most of this time the bird was low down. Each time it flew it would land and go deep down.

The Paddyfield warbler moved on the next day after 26 consecutive days the third longest stayer, the longest being 45 days. This was also unusual as there are very few records of July birds.

Paddyfield warblers are a cross between a Reed/ marsh and Sedge Warbler, short-bodied with short wings and a long tail. Warm brown above and very pale underparts. the rusty tone on the rump was very evident when flying. These birds are normally found in Russia, NE China, Asia- Mongolia

While photographing the Paddyfield Warbler you could help but notice a very brightly coloured Willow Warbler

Young birds showed a large amount of yellow underparts and it looked very exotic in the sun

A Garden Warbler put in the odd appearance but usually in the distance.

A pair of Twite dropped in

It must have been a warm day to see people in the sea.

Time to head back to the mainland, a well spent 2.5 hours even if i didn't get anywhere but the garden. The Paddyfield warbler may have disappeared the day after my visit but Icterine Warbler, Wryneck, Pied Fly and even a few Puffins could be seen, unfortunately with South Easterly winds its not possible to get over to the island and with the whole reserve closing on the 30 August i may have been one of the last to visit for this year.

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About Me

Shetland is a magical place to visit and even better to live in. You really feel close to nature, there is so much to see and learn. The landscape is for ever changing under the wind blown sky. Its a place where you can make a difference, where recording and undertaking wildlife surveys do make you feel that you are connecting with nature.
Shetland has to be one of the best UK destinations for photography. The light is so clear and crisp, the weather is constantly changing giving superb cloud formations.
Being a dark site destination Shetland is always going to be great for astrophotography, although very challenging with windy nights.
I use Nikon D610 , D7100 & Sony A7s cameras with a sigma 500 + 800 mm lenses as well as a 105 macro Nikon, Samyang 14 mm & 24mm .Contact shetsip@gmail.com